Number 46...

...no, not another psalm.  An unnamed stream but for that moniker in the old white Wisconsin Trout Maps book.  A feeder to a great creek I've posted some pics of fishing this year...another ghost town.  The first time I saw 46 I crawled up to the bank and looked over...to 100 brook trout.  We took turns catching them after exploring the meadow on our own...but, still catching them two at a time.  Doubles have been my thing ever since.  I love fishing two nymphs...

A large piece of land is public and this stream is on the gps of many an angler...the main stream gets fished hard but number 46 and its meadow still looks the same as it did 30 years ago.  I once guided five guys from Kentucky on a trout and grouse hunt here.  They flushed more grouse in one day than the all of them had flushed in their lives back home.  I think they each went through a box of shells...the highlight was peering over the edge of number 46 and seeing a five pound brown trout.  Trout and grouse...and, turkeys.  This public land received the first batch of turkeys that were from Missouri traded for Wisconsin grouse.  That law of nature that says something restored to its natural environment replenishes with over abundance until balance is reached, was true of the turkeys and the trout of the driftless area.  I only hope it works for the once abundant grouse...

Driftless late season...the good old days!

Driftless trout fishing is winding down.  Probably a good thing...I can't get enough of it.  The fishing is fantastic...and, as one of our fish managers says...now is the good old days.  The fly fishing for trout is the best I've ever seen it...I would even go out on a limb and call it the best spring creek fishing on the planet.  And, I've fished the spring creeks of the paradise valley...many times.  Today, as many nice trout came to hand in two hours as in a full day at Armstrongs, Nelsons, or Dupuys.  And, that was fee fishing...this is public water.  I've seen two other cars the last five times out and they were together and throwing spinners.  Ten miles of one of the best driftless spring creeks to myself all summer...you all have seen the pictures...just has me shaking my head in wonder as the west fork and timber coulee get pounded.  And, I've spent years guiding on both...

Now, you are probably saying I'm full of...myself.  And, you could be right...I feel pretty good after the afternoon rise and then watching my 14 yr old play football for his middle school.  He caught his second TD pass in two games today and another 40 yard pass he ran down to the two yard line...so you can hopefully pardon my strong opinions.  The rise ended just in time for me to get there to see the kickoff...

A bluebird day... trout were just starting to come up as I entered the water.  They were in shallow riffles and undercuts, sometimes in only inches of water...casting accuracy and careful wading were at a premium.  As they always are...but, my trude matched the bwo's perfectly and had few refusals.  My apologies, these pictures don't do the fishing justice...

Some color in the valley today...

...and I just had to take some photos.  Otis went with me and hunted some moles...while a large bird sailed overhead.  I'm not sure what it was...possibly the osprey I've been seeing or a young bald eagle.   I saw one low flying bald eagle over the back yard with a large snake just a couple of days ago.   Whatever it was today I am sure he was just checking out the colors like I was...